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☆ Biden administration restores protections for gay and transgender Americans seeking health care
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Avery Lotz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration announced a new rule Friday expanding safeguards against potential discrimination of gay and transgender Americans seeking medical care, in a reversal of Trump-era limitations that nixed federal health protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In a set of expansive new rules unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, the department moved to advance civil rights protections for patients by barring health providers and insurers receiving federal funding from discriminating against those seeking care on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The HHS rule restores Obama-era protections for transgender patients that the Trump administration rolled back in 2020 — a move that was condemned by LGBTQ+ advocacy and human rights organizations. The finalized rule comes as access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth has been tangled in political controversy, with more than 20 states in recent years attempting to restrict youth access to such care. The Biden administration in 2021 announced its intention to protect transgender Americans from health care discrimination through Section 1557 and Title IX regulations, citing a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed federal civil rights law bars discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

Persons: CNN —, Trump, Obama, “, Xavier Becerra, Barack Obama, ”, Biden, Kelley Robinson, Harris, CNN’s Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, Biden, Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, Affordable, Trump, Congress, Human Rights

☆ Biden Delays Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Christina Jewett | Noah Weiland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Biden administration said on Friday that it was delaying a decision on whether to ban menthol cigarettes as federal officials take more time to consider the move. The White House has faced considerable opposition from the big tobacco companies that could lose billions of dollars from the move. But the proposal has also posed risks for President Biden in an election year because of his weakening support among Black voters, some of whom view it as heavy-handed. “This rule has garnered historic attention, and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,” Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary, said in a statement. “It’s clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time.”

Persons: Biden, ” Xavier Becerra, ” Organizations: Black

☆ Biden Administration Restores Health Protections for Gay and Transgender People
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Noah Weiland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration announced expansive new protections on Friday for gay and transgender medical patients, prohibiting federally funded health providers and insurers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The new rule reverses a policy instituted by the Trump administration and helps to fulfill part of President Biden’s vow to restore civil rights protections for L.G.B.T.Q. people that were eliminated by his predecessor. The rule overhauls federal policy in an area that has become a political flashpoint, with more than 20 Republican-led states banning or restricting gender-affirming care for minors in recent years, and it is likely to draw legal challenges. Even the history of the rule illustrates the political sensitivities at play: It has now taken three different forms under three successive presidents.

Persons: Trump, Biden’s, “, ” Xavier Becerra Organizations: Biden, Republican

☆ These US restaurants and chefs are 2024 James Beard Award finalists
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A New Orleans restaurant featuring a modern Senegalese tasting menu and an Ethiopia-born chef who studied psychology before turning to a culinary career are among the restaurants and chefs named as finalists for the coveted James Beard Awards. The finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards were announced Wednesday in Washington, DC. In the Emerging Chef category, Fariyal Abdullahi, executive chef at Hav & Mar in New York, is among the five finalists. Masako Morishita moved to Washington, DC to be a cheerleader for the Washington Commanders. Fariyal Abdullahi, executive chef at Hav & Mar in New York, is among the five finalists in the Emerging Chef category.

Persons: James Beard, Fariyal Abdullahi, Abdullahi, Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s, Masako Morishita, Andy Thomas Lee, Chef Serigne Mbaye’s, Sarah Minnick, Dean Neff, foodie, James Beard’s, “, ” Beard, Mamba, Nadia Nijimbere, Yenvy Pham, Phở, Chris Viaud, Hollis Wells Silverman, Erika Whitaker, Kelly Whitaker, Michael Rafidi, Renee Touponce, David Uygur, Dallas , TX, Scott Suchman, Justin Hamel, Janet Becerra, Ryan Fernandez, Baker, Susan Bae, Jesus Brazon, Manuel Brazon, Atsuko Fujimoto, Crystal Kass, Valentine, Anna Posey, Gemma, Lula Drake Wine, Morris, Vin, Geoff Davis, Rogelio Garcia, Auro, Maynard Llera, Kuya, Tara Monsod, Billy ” Ngo, Vinnie Cimino, Cordelia, OHJose Salazar, Sarkar, Hajime Sato, Sozai, Jenner, Tony Conte, Jesse Ito, Matt Kern, Harley Peet, Kevin Tien, Ann Ahmed, Rob Connoley, Dan Jacobs, Dan Van Rite, Christina Nguyen, Hai, Tim Nicholson, Brandon Cunningham, Ali Sabbah, Matt Vawter, Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Nick Zocco, Atsushi Kono, Chris Mauricio, Charlie Mitchell, Clover, Jeremy Salamon, Conor Dennehy, Talulla, Maria Meza, David Standridge, Jake Stevens, Cara Tobin, Honey, Avery Adams, Matia, Kristi Brown, Josh Dorcak, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa Miranda, Jamie Davis, The, Rod Lassiter, Parnass Savang, James London, Chubby Fish, Robbie Robinson, Paul Smith, Valerie Chang, Hunter Evans, Jackson, Gabriel Hernandez, Carlos Portela, Rene Andrade, Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der, Steve, Steve Riley, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zacatlán, Emmanuel Chavez, Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy, Tracy Malechek, Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Misti Norris, Petra, Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria Organizations: CNN, Lyric Opera, Hav, Culinary Institute of America, Noma, Mar, Washington Commanders, Dakar NOLA, Texas :, James Beard Foundation, The New York Times, D.C, Albi Restaurant, Washington Post, New York Times, Nikko, SC, Comfort, Dakar, Caracas Bakery, Lula, Woodford Food & Beverage, Beverages, Social Haus, UT, New, Pacific, PR Locations: New Orleans, Ethiopia, Washington ,, Chicago, New York, Copenhagen, Washington, Perry’s, Portland , Oregon, Wilmington , North Carolina, Texas, Texas : West Texas, Marfa, Mixtli, San Antonio, Detroit , MI, Seattle, WA, Greenleaf, Ansanm, Milford, Wolfeboro, NH, The Wells, Boulder, Portland, Wilmington , NC, Albi , Washington, The, Lucia, Dallas ,, Albi, Washington , DC, Santa Fe, Marfa , TX, San Antonio , TX, Springs, , New York, NY, Pancita, Kultura, Charleston, Southern Junction, Buffalo , NY, Waitsburg, Lockhart , TX, Carmel, CA, Dorchester, MA, Dakar NOLA , New Orleans, LA, Hayward, McMinnville, Orlando, FL, Nashville, TN, Nixta , Minneapolis, MN, Shan, Bozeman, Albuquerque, NM, Long Beach , CA, Hudson, Bakery, Caracas, Doral, Miami, Phoenix, AZ, Elske, IL, Son, Raleigh , NC, Dallas , TX, Columbia, San Francisco , CA, Anaheim , Anaheim , CA, , Washington, Buffalo, Montpelier, VT, Baltimore, , New Orleans, Brownsville , TX, San Francisco ,, California, Burdell, Oakland, Calistoga, Los Angeles , CA, San Diego , CA, Kru, Sacramento, Lakes, MI, Cleveland, Mita’s, Cincinnati, Indienne, Clawson , MI, Esmé, NJ, PA, Philadelphia, Fenwick, Bas Rouge, Easton, KS, MO, Khâluna, Minneapolis, St, Louis, EsterEv, Milwaukee , WI, Hai Hai , Minneapolis, Omaha, UT, Greenough, MT, Salt Lake City, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, Denver, Urban, Sofreh, Brooklyn, Kono , New York, Harana, Accord, Clover Hill, RI, Cambridge, Dolores, Providence , RI, Leeward, Burlington, Island, MÄS, Ashland, kann, Musang, KY, NC, The Hackney, Washington , NC, Talat, Atlanta, West Columbia, Maty’s, Elvie’s, Verde Mesa, San Juan, Saffron , New Orleans, Bacanora, Oklahoma City, Henderson, NV, Mesa, Tatemó, Houston , TX, Austin , TX, Mission

☆ Harris says it’s absurd and unfair that marijuana is treated more seriously than fentanyl under federal law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Michael Williams | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that it is “absurd” and “patently unfair” that marijuana is treated the same as heroin and other Schedule I drugs – and more seriously than fentanyl – under federal law. “Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair,” Harris said during a roundtable on the administration’s plans for cannabis reform. The administration began the process of reconsidering how marijuana is treated under federal law just before the midterms in 2022. Andy Beshear - and alluded to her own role in what she described as an unequal criminal justice system. Harris’ own feelings on marijuana reform have evolved in line with her career.

Persons: Kamala Harris, ” Harris, “ I’m, Biden, Harris, Joe Biden, Xavier Becerra, Fat Joe, Andy Beshear, ”, “, ” Biden, Bill Clinton’s, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN —, White, Black, Democratic, US Health, Human Services, Kentucky Gov, Union, Los Angeles Times Locations: California, Francisco’s

☆ Biden officials press health care giant to get emergency funding flowing to providers following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Senior Biden administration officials on Tuesday pressed the CEO of health care giant UnitedHealth Group and other health care firms to do more to get vital payments flowing to health care providers three weeks after a cyberattack crippled those payment systems, sources familiar with the meeting told CNN. The meeting featured Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, senior White House officials, and Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, whose subsidiary Change Healthcare was hit by a cyberattack last month, the sources said. The ransomware attack prevented some insurance payments on prescription drugs from processing, leaving many care providers footing the bill up front and hoping to get reimbursed. Some health care providers have lost more than $100 million per day because of the outage, one industry analyst previously told CNN. But the financial wreckage caused by the cyberattack will take a lot longer to clean up, health providers and analysts say.

Persons: CNN —, Xavier Becerra, Andrew Organizations: CNN, Biden, UnitedHealth, Human Services, White House, Healthcare, White, National Security, Department of Health, Washington Post, Change Healthcare

☆ Premarket stocks: What customers are telling banks they care about in this election year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Fears about the health of the real estate market, and a confusing economic landscape, leave commercial banks questioning what comes next. The commercial real estate market is definitely under some pressure because of the rising rate environment. So I think banks are watching all that closely and working closely with regulators. How long do you think commercial real estate woes will weigh on banks? It definitely persists, and it depends on the banks’ weighting of real estate as a percentage of their portfolio.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Bell, Chris Giamo, we’ll, They’re, It’s, That’s, Philip Wang, —, Xavier Becerra, Julie Su, Eva Rothenberg Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Silicon Valley Bank, TD Bank, Sunday, Healthcare, UnitedHealth, CNN, Human Services, Labor Locations: New York, Silicon, United States, Canada

☆ Mexico City may be just months away from running of out water
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Laura Paddison | Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Mexico City CNN —Alejandro Gomez has been without proper running water for more than three months. Historic lowsDensely populated Mexico City stretches out across a high-altitude lake bed, around 7,300 feet above sea level. The Cutzamala water system, a network of reservoirs, pumping stations, canals and tunnels, supplies about 25% of the water used by the Valley of Mexico, which includes Mexico City. She and her family often have to pay more than $100 for a tank of water from one of the city’s water trucks. “I don’t think anyone is prepared.”CNN’s Laura Paddison and Jack Guy reported from London, and Fidel Gutiérrez reported from Mexico City.

Persons: Mexico City CNN — Alejandro Gomez, Gomez, ”, Christian Domínguez Sarmiento, Jose Alfredo Ramirez, Cesar Rodriguez, it’s, It’s, Fabiola Sosa, ” Germán Arturo Martínez Santoyo, Raquel Cunha, Garcia, Becerra, La Niña, El Niño, UNAM’s Sarmiento, Conagua, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Martí Batres Guadarrama, Sosa, Rodríguez, “, Henry Romero, Márquez, doesn’t, ‘, ” Sosa, Amanda Martínez, Laura Paddison, Jack Guy, Fidel Gutiérrez Organizations: Mexico City CNN, CNN, Authorities, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Bloomberg, Getty, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Reuters, University of Northern, Local, Mexico City’s, Cape Town, Advisory, Mexico City Locations: Mexico, Mexico City’s Tlalpan, doesn’t, Mexico City, UNAM, Tenochtitlan, Spanish, Conagua, Cutzamala, Villa, Villa Victoria, University of Northern British Columbia, Iztapalapa, South Africa, Tlalpan, London

Leaders from government, the arts, academia and philanthropy gathered in Washington for “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities." Panel discussions focused on turning to the arts and humanities to solve challenges, from improving health to bridging divides. HHS and the NEA have a long history of working together to improve health using the arts, including through music, Becerra said. That's through painting, that's through food, that's through performances and music,” Lowe said in an interview before the summit. “They're so tied together it's hard to separate the two.”Biden's executive order said the arts, humanities and museum and library services are essential to the well-being, health, vitality and democracy of the nation.

Persons: Tanden, ” Maria Rosario Jackson, Renee Fleming, Anna Deavere Smith, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris, Radhika Fox, Jackson, Xavier Becerra, Becerra, Biden, NEH, Shelly Lowe, ” Lowe, ”, ” Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, Arts and Culture, Democratic, Associated Press, NEA, EPA's, Water, Health, Human Services, HHS, National Endowment, Humanities, United, White Locations: United States, Washington, Seattle , New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, Boston, York, New Jersey, Culture, America

The total for the latest open enrollment period marks a 30% increase from a year ago, based on past enrollment figures published by the health policy research organization KFF. Officials said the figures include 5 million new signups and more than 16 million people with 2023 ACA plan coverage. West Virginia, which has expanded Medicaid, saw the largest percentage increase in enrollment at 80%. “Marketplace coverage is very important to those in those states whose incomes are under 138% of poverty,” says Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access and tracking health system performance for The Commonwealth Fund. “It is a reflection of the lack of Medicaid expansion in those states.”An analysis by KFF notes ACA health plan enrollment has increased each year during the Biden administration.

Persons: It’s, Xavier Becerra, “, ”, Sara Collins, KFF, Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Cynthia Cox, Cox, signups, ” Cox, Collins, ” Collin Organizations: Biden, “, Social Security, Affordable, ” Department of Health, Human Services, District of Columbia, Commonwealth Fund, American Locations: Texas, enrollees, Florida, West Virginia, signups

On the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion, Biden and Harris announced new rules and guidance about contraceptives and abortion and a national tour by Harris to call attention to the issue. Biden and Harris, as well as Democrats down the ticket are positioning themselves as the protectors of abortion rights and casting the Dobbs decision that left abortion access to the states as harmful to women. And Democrats have seen a series of victories in races and credit their position on abortion rights with getting voters to the polls. But, ballot measures to ensure abortion rights were passed in California, Michigan, Vermont while voters in Kansas, Kentucky and Montana voted down proposals that would have rolled back protections. Democrats hope the issue will propel Biden and Harris to victory in 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Roe, Wade, Biden, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Dobbs, ” Biden, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Democratic, Affordable, of Health, Human Services, Labor, Republican Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, California, California , Michigan , Vermont, Kansas , Kentucky, Montana, Wisconsin

Support for abortion rights drove women to the polls during the 2022 midterm elections, delivering Democrats unexpected success. Still, Democrats believe abortion will be a key motivator for base voters and help expand their coalition. Biden aides and allies point to recent elections that have overwhelmingly shown that, when voters can choose, they have chosen to safeguard abortion rights. According to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, among Democrats, nearly nine in 10 say abortion should generally be legal. But it also underscores a pervasive fear among Republican candidates and voters alike that vocalizing their desire to further restrict abortion rights in 2024 might be politically dangerous.

Persons: Donald Trump, Wade, “, Joe Biden's, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Roe, ”, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden, Harris, Jill Biden, Doug Emhoff, Trump, Bill Clinton's, Timmaraju, ’ ”, Benjamin Watson, “ Roe, Dobbs, Xavier Becerra, ” Becerra, Alanna Durkin Richer, Amanda Seitz, Linley Sanders Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican, Democratic, Democrats, AP VoteCast, Trump, Biden, Jackson, Health Organization, National Abortion Rights, League, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Republicans, NFL, Fox News, Health, Human Services Locations: Roe, Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, Dobbs v, Iowa, America, California, East Coast, Boston

☆ House Republicans, Stalled on Spending, Weaponize the Power of the Purse
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just before hard-right House Republicans staged a floor mutiny over spending on Wednesday that sent lawmakers home early for their Thanksgiving break, they managed one final vote, on a measure to reduce the salary of an obscure Biden administration official to $1. On Wednesday, the would-be victims included Xavier Becerra, the health secretary, and Vincent J. Munster, a virus scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Last week, it was Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary. But others, such as ones taking aim at Lloyd J. Austin III, the defense secretary, and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, have succeeded. But House Republicans’ choice to repeatedly push such proposals highlights their slash-and-burn approach to federal spending, and why Congress is facing such a steep challenge reaching a longer-term deal to fund the government.

Persons: Biden, Mike Johnson, Biden’s, Xavier Becerra, Vincent J ., Jean, Pierre, Lloyd J, Austin III, Pete Buttigieg Organizations: Republicans, Vincent J . Munster, National Institute of Allergy, White House, Democratic

Political Cartoons View All 1244 Images“They ask questions but they don’t tell us what is going on,” Hawkins said of CMS. If trends continue, as many as 30 million people could end up being dropped from Medicaid once states finish reviewing their Medicaid rolls, according to Avalere's projections. The numbers dwarf the Biden administration’s initial projections that only 15 million people would lose coverage throughout the process. “We have to say it’s going poorly,” Massey Whorley, a principal at Avalere, said of the Medicaid redeterminations. Some Texas lawmakers have asked CMS to investigate issues in the state, where nearly 1 million have lost Medicaid.

Persons: Biden, Avalere, ”, Trevor Hawkins, Hawkins, “, ” Hawkins, they’ve, Xavier Becerra, Daniel Tsai, Tsai, Lily Mezquita, Mezquita, ” Massey Whorley, I’ve, Gavin Lesnick, Lesnick, Lynn Hearn, Hearn, We’ve, we’ve, ” Hearn, Mallory McManus, Cassidy Estes, Rogers, didn't, Estes, Graciela Camarena, Camarena, Jennifer Ruffcorn, Jennifer Wagner, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Medicaid, Legal Aid, Centers, Medicare, Services, CMS, Democratic, Human Services, HHS, CMS Center, Children’s Health Insurance, Biden, AP, state's Department of Human Services, Florida Health Justice, Florida Department of Children, Charlotte Center, Legal, Children's Defense Fund, Texas, Texas Health, Center, Budget, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Miami , Florida, Avalere, North Carolina, Atlanta

☆ Venezuelan Court Suspends Results of Opposition Primary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Kejal Vyas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Maria Corina Machado at news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, last month. Photo: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg NewsVenezuela’s highest court suspended the outcome of a primary that the opposition held to choose a presidential candidate, casting doubts over a deal that President Nicolás Maduro had reached with the Biden administration to pave the way for free and fair elections. The Supreme Court’s decision on Monday came after a series of public comments by Maduro and other high-ranking regime officials in recent days deeming the opposition’s Oct. 22 primary a fraud, though no evidence for the assertion was offered.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Carlos Becerra, Nicolás Maduro, Biden, Maduro Organizations: Bloomberg Locations: Caracas, Venezuela

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will be in Arizona to talk about power grid and clean energy investment in the rural Southwest. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough plans to visit Iowa to discuss improving access to medical care for veterans in rural areas. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will be in North Carolina talking about health care access in rural areas. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su will be in Pennsylvania to discuss boosting employment opportunities in rural areas. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will head to Indiana to discuss how international trade can benefit rural farmers and producers.

Persons: Joe Biden, Dean Phillips of, Biden, Phillips, Tom Vilsack, White, Vilsack, Deb Haaland, Jennifer Granholm, Denis McDonough, Isabel Guzman, Miguel Cardona, Xavier Becerra, Julie Su, Katherine Tai Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic Rep, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Administration, White, Smart Commodities, Agriculture Department, Farmers of, Energy, Southwest . Veterans, Small Business Administration, Education, Human Services, Labor, U.S . Trade Locations: Minnesota, America, Indiana, Farmers of America, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Southwest, Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, U.S

☆ In Brooklyn, a Honduran-Inspired Backyard Dinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mahira Rivers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On a warm evening, not long before her guests were set to arrive, Cathleen O’Neil, 30, was stocking the bar for a dinner party at her home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, while her co-host, the chef Feisal Lagos, 39, was hastily adding the finishing touches to his handwritten menu. During the pandemic, they missed the collaborative thrill of hosting and came up with the idea for the Regathering, a dinner series that would allow them to reunite with their circle. Their first meal, in July 2021, was a celebration of the end of social distancing, held in the backyard of O’Neil’s apartment building. “We needed to get out, to see our friends,” said O’Neil. “But we also both take what we do very seriously.” They served an ambitious menu of raw oysters with granita and grilled tilefish.

Persons: Cathleen O’Neil, Feisal, ”, “, O’Neil, Chan, Camille Becerra Organizations: CONeil Productions, New Locations: Williamsburg , Brooklyn, New York

The man, whose name was redacted in the document, said he worked as a “political tracker” for America Rising. The police report links to two websites as potential employers, one at an America Rising corporation and one for an America Rising political action committee. The mansion on Mackinac Island is a summer residence for any Michigan governor in office. The governor's team would not confirm whether she was at the Mackinac Island residence on Aug. 26, citing security concerns. Her chief of staff said the August incident on Mackinac Island was considered “extremely serious,” in light of the previous criminal cases.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer’s, ‘, It's, Whitmer, ”, ” Det, Aaron Sitko, Lori Dougovito, James Grady II, ” Whitmer, ” JoAnne Huls, “, Elissa Slotkin, Xavier Becerra, Slotkin Organizations: Michigan Gov, The Associated Press, America, America Rising, Michigan, Police, AP . State, Democratic U.S . Rep, Health Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, Mackinac, ”, Brighton , Michigan

☆ The Biden administration is negotiating lower prices for 10 medications with drug manufacturers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration announced Tuesday it is beginning talks with drug makers behind 10 expensive medications to lower prices for recipients of Medicare, the national health insurance program for older Americans and people with disability status. The negotiations are expected to last until 2024, with the lower prices expected to go into effect in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office "estimated that price negotiation will lower average drug prices paid by Medicare and will reduce the budget deficit by $25 billion in 2031." "Negotiating provides us a critical tool to ensure they get those prescription drugs at lower prices – just as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has done for years." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration has recently taken aim at high drug prices and high profits at pharmaceutical companies.

Persons: —, Biden, Juliette Cubanski, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Jardiance, Eli Lilly Organizations: Service, Congressional, Medicare, Biden, Harris Administration, Human Services, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, HHS, Centers, Services

CNN —Costa Rica’s president has ordered a state of emergency, citing a surge of migrants crossing through the country toward the United States. “The people that arrive are passing across Costa Rica trying to get to the United States, basically,” President Rodrigo Chaves told a press conference Tuesday. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 84,490 people entered Costa Rica through its southern border in the month of August – an increase of 55% compared to the previous month. A group of Venezuelan migrants ask for money to continue their journey to the United States in San Jose, Costa Rica, on October 13, 2022. As of August 28, more than 38,000 individuals have registered in Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala for the Safe Mobility initiative, according to a White House official.

Persons: CNN — Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chavez, Ezequiel Becerra, –, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: CNN, International Organization for Migration, Getty, Safe Mobility, White Locations: United States, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, China, Colombia, Haiti, Yemen, Bangladesh, San Jose, Darien, Panama, Guatemala

Weekly coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased for the first time in more than two months, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of currently hospitalized patients with COVID-19 stayed relatively level week over week at less than 16,200, according to CDC data . Nearly 960 COVID-19 deaths were reported during the last full week of August, according to provisional data from the CDC. While the decline in hospitalizations is likely a sign that the latest coronavirus increase is past its peak, health officials are eyeing the fall and winter for potential COVID-19 waves as well. Additionally, the Biden administration announced that, starting this week, households can order four free, at-home COVID-19 tests through COVIDTests.gov .

Persons: Biden, Xavier Becerra, ” Becerra Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Human Services Locations: hospitalizations

“This race is quickly consolidating,” said GOP fundraiser Charles Moran, a Trump delegate in 2016 and 2020. California was home to the so-called Trump resistance during his time in office, and Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. That created a competitive environment where Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi ’s district in San Francisco awarded the same number of GOP delegates as a rural, conservative heartland district. The state party — strongly influenced by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, a Trump loyalist — “shifted everything to help Donald Trump,” Fleishman said. The California rules are expected to be challenged at a state party convention next week, though reversing course is seen as unlikely.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Charles Moran, “, haven’t, General Xavier Becerra, George W, Bush, Democrat Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi ’, Jessica Millan Patterson, Jon Fleishman, Kevin McCarthy, ” Fleishman, Ron DeSantis, ” Ken Cuccinelli, Steve Frank, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, it's, John McCain, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Obama, Hillary Clinton Organizations: ANGELES, White, GOP, Trump, Republican, Republican White, ”, U.S, Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, Democrat, California GOP, Democratic, Florida Gov, Homeland Security, California’s Republican Party Locations: U.S, California, Iowa, America, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bakersfield, Michigan, Nevada, George H.W . Bush, Central, Orange County

The rollout of the new COVID-19 shots has hit a few speed bumps. "Some payers are still updating their systems and may not yet be set up to cover the updated COVID-19 vaccines. If this happens, our pharmacy teams can help patients schedule an appointment for a later date," a CVS spokesperson told CBS News. Residents of Juneau, Alaska, don’t have shot availability within 100 miles, according to the federal government’s vaccine search website. And if you don’t have insurance – through this Bridge Access program – you are covered,” Becerra said.

Persons: Alex Huseman, Xavier Becerra, ”, ” Becerra Organizations: CBS, Alaska Department of Health, Associated Press . Health, Human Services, Washington , D.C, “ Locations: Juneau , Alaska, Washington ,

Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said. Federal officials said that will help guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in coronavirus cases. Political Cartoons View All 1171 ImagesThe tests are designed to detect COVID variants currently circulating, and are intended for use by the end of the year. Postal Service provided more than 755 million tests for free to homes nationwide. O’Connell said manufacturers would be able to spread out the 200 million tests they will produce for federal use over 18 months.

Persons: —, Dawn O’Connell, ” O'Connell, Grandma, O’Connell, “ We’ve, COVID’s, O'Connell, there’s, “ we’re, “, Xavier Becerra, Biden, Harris, Becerra Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, of Health, Human Services, United States Postal Service, Federal, HHS, U.S . Postal Service, Harris Administration Locations: U.S

☆ U.S. will again offer free at-home Covid tests starting Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will resume offering free at-home Covid tests to American households Monday as the virus gains a stronger foothold nationwide. Americans will soon be able to use COVIDtests.gov to request four free tests, the administration said in a release. But the Biden administration noted that the at-home tests set to be delivered will detect currently circulating Covid variants. The end of that declaration also changed how public and private insurers cover at-home tests, potentially leaving some people unable to get those tests for free through their plans. But certain local health clinics and community sites still offer at-home tests to the public at no cost.

Persons: Biden, hospitalizations, Xavier Becerra Organizations: Human Services Locations: Manhattan, New York City

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